Cylindropuntia ramosissima
Diamond cholla, pencil cactus, Pencil Cactus
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Cactaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Cylindropuntia ramosissima (Diamond cholla) is a native California shrub in the Cactaceae family, recognized by pencil-thin segments and single spine per cluster.
Diamond cholla is a California native shrub found in the low desert regions, including the Colorado Desert, in creosote-bush and saltbush scrub habitats at elevations below 1,300 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces striking orange-pink to red-brown flowers with pale green filaments. Growing with multiple decumbent to erect trunks up to 1.5 meters tall, it forms spreading branches with distinctive terminal segments 4 to 8 millimeters in diameter. Its stems are characterized by prominent tubercles and typically bear a single spine that ranges from pink-gray to dark brown, with a pale white to yellow sheath. The plant produces dense, bur-like fruits with tubercles that blend seamlessly into the stem structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; pencil-thin segments and single spine per cluster are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Creosote-bush/white bur-sage, saltbush, other desert scrub
Elevation: < 1300 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Riverside, Imperial, San Diego
Outside California: Nevada, Arizona, northern Mexico (Sonora, Baja California)
Bloom period
Cylindropuntia ramosissima blooms Apr-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Opuntia: Cylindropuntia has cylindrical stem segments; Opuntia has flattened paddle-shaped pads.; vs Austrocylindropuntia: Cylindropuntia has papery spine sheaths that peel away; Austrocylindropuntia lacks spine sheaths entirely.; vs Echinocereus: Cylindropuntia has segmented stems that detach easily; Echinocereus has ribbed continuous stems.; vs Bergerocactus: Cylindropuntia has detachable segments with tubercles; Bergerocactus has continuous ribbed stems.; vs Grusonia: Cylindropuntia has round spines and grows waist-high or taller; Grusonia has flattened spines and stays under 10 inches.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cylindropuntia ramosissima native to California?
Yes. Cylindropuntia ramosissima is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cylindropuntia ramosissima bloom?
Cylindropuntia ramosissima blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Cylindropuntia ramosissima grow?
Cylindropuntia ramosissima occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Riverside, Imperial, San Diego, at elevations of < 1300 m.
What plant family does Cylindropuntia ramosissima belong to?
Cylindropuntia ramosissima is in the Cactaceae family, genus Cylindropuntia.
What habitat does Cylindropuntia ramosissima grow in?
Cylindropuntia ramosissima grows in Creosote-bush/white bur-sage, saltbush, other desert scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Cylindropuntia sp. — Cholla
- Cylindropuntia wolfii — Wolf's cholla
- Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa var. acanthocarpa — Buckhorn cholla
- Cylindropuntia bernardina — Cane or valley cholla
- Cylindropuntia bigelovii — Teddy-bear cholla
- Cylindropuntia californica var. californica — Snake cholla
- Echinocactus polycephalus var. polycephalus — Barrel cactus
- Echinocactus sp. — Clustered barrel cactus
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.